Lykoi

The Lykoi: a partly, or completely hairless cat. Their remarkable appearance makes them look like a wolf. Which is where they’ve gotten their name from. Lykoi comes from the Greek Lykos, which means wolf. This cat breed finds its existence in a natural mutation from a domestic shorthaired cat. Lykois usually have a coat with white and black hair, giving them a greyish appearance. They are very friendly and social cats.

The Lykoi was first discovered in Virginia, Tennessee and is known for being partly hairless. Their uniqueness resulted in a breeding programme. They get their appearance from a natural mutation, which means the genetic material of cat was altered spontaneously.

Character

Lykois are friendly and social cats that enjoy affection and are very loving. They are great hunters and very smart. They’re often associated with (were)wolfs, due to their unique coat and the hairless “mask” around the eyes, nose and mouth.

Appearance

Colour

Lykois usually have a coat with white and black hair, giving them a greyish appearance. This combination can range from completely black to completely white. This pattern is called Roan and there are no other cat breeds with this pattern.

Body, legs and tail

The Lykoi has a strong and agile body. Their legs and paws usually do have hair. The tail can have hair, although this isn’t always the case. The tail usually has more hair at the base than at the end.

Head, ears and eyes

The ears and nose of a Lykoi feel like smooth, pleated leather. The Lykoi has a near or completely hairless “mask” around the eyes, nose and mouth. The head is small to medium with fairly big, pointy ears. The almond-shaped eyes are usually yellow.

Coat

The Lykoi has a remarkable coat that is similar to that of an opossum. It’s black with white, which usually gives the coat a greyish colour. This pattern is called Roan. The skin is pink but can darken in sunlight. When an Lykoi has reached an adult age, they will start moulting. The hair will grow back later, depending on the season. Kittens are born completely black and start getting the typical characteristics and colour patterns at  2-4 weeks old.